SLA restores Anagarika’s propaganda vehicle

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 September 2002, 15:02 GMT]The Sri Lanka army said Tuesday that soldiers of its
Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Regiment (SLEME)
restored the propaganda vehicle used by the Sinhala
Buddhist revivalist and nationalist, Anagarika
Dharmapala, to “its pristine glory” upon a request by
Buddhist clergy. Many Sri Lankan social historians say
that Anagarika Dharmapala was the main architect of
militant Sinhala Buddhism in Sri Lanka, of the idea
that the Singhalese are the only rightful owners of
the whole island.

The SLA is closely associated with the Sinhala
Buddhist clergy in its rituals and outlook
The Buddhist clergy in Sri Lanka sees the SLA as the
champion of protector of Sinhala Buddhism in the
island, the upholder of the Dhamma, the primacy of
which is entrenched in the country’s constitution.

An official statement by the SLA Tuesday said:
“Commander of the Army Lt. Gen. L. P Balagalle had
approved the project and extended Army’s fullest
support for vehicle’s repairs and its restoration.
This vehicle of Anagarika Dharmapala, “Sobana
Maligawa” which was used to travel throughout the
country on his renowned mission to rekindle interest
in Buddhism and its heritage was found in a
dilapidated state, though the vehicle possessed
facilities such as sleeping quarters, a writing table
and a chamber from which he used to address the
public.

“Anagarika Dharmapala who rose against imperial
attempts to undermine Buddhism and its values under
colonial Ceylon spearheaded a campaign of Buddhist
re-awakening across the country. Masses in their
thousands followed his campaign of Buddhist revival
resulting in the establishment of a few Buddhist
schools for the first time in then Ceylon. His vehicle
of historic value while remained idling in the
possession of a businessman at Bandaragama was
re-taken by Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thera, Chairman,
Maha Bodhi Society and Ven.Thiniyawala Palitha Thera,
Incumbent, Nalandaramaya, Nugegoda assuring
restoration of the same, considering its national
importance.

“Soldiers at Katubedda-based SLEME under the patronage
of Colonel Tissa Jayasuriya, Commanding Officer at
this work site volunteered to work day and night and
it took almost ten months for all parties to bring the
vehicle to its former glory. The restored vehicle, now
at display at Ananda College, will be officially
handed over to the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka on
Tuesday (17) to coincide with Anagarika Dharmapala’s
138th Birth anniversary celebrations”.

Tamils charge that the SLA champions the cause of
Sinhala Buddhism also by building Buddhist shrines in
Tamil holy sites it occupies in the northeast.

The Sri Lankan military was encamped in hundreds of
Tamil temples and churches in the island’s northeast
for more than a decade amidst charges that soldiers
were damaging and desecrating the holy precincts.

The matter was addressed only after the Liberation
Tigers insisted that the SLA should leave the temples
and churches as part of the ceasefire deal they
negotiated with Colombo in February this year.

However, Tamil religious organisations complain that
the SLA is still in occupation of the environs of many
important temples and churches despite the stipulation
in the Cease-fire agreement.